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hike #37: Grays Peak (14,270ft)

Saturday hike day; awesome hike picked out – another 14er. 5am alarm start but woke up in a funk. Frustrating to have a down day for absolutely no reason. Rare for me too. Double argh.

So on this day, relied on Ro to pester me for 2 hours until I donned a ski cap, ate a cup of oatmeal, and bumbled thru packing for today’s day hike. Beautiful sunshine, cool temps – start of Colorado autumn.

Grays Peak – missed this peak in early July when I climbed its sister Torreys by accident. Today I know the way – stay left at the trail divide, don’t ask fellow hikers for directions (that’s how I missed Grays the first time…LOL>).

Took the Bakerville exit – just before Eisenhower tunnel. The Aspens popped bright yellow against a peak backdrop covered with a fresh dusting of snow…not glacial snow, but actual snowfall. WOW! that was today’s destination. And to think only 2 hours earlier I was contemplating lazing at home. Would have missed out on an amazing LIFE event. Lackluster attitude goodbye 🙂

Knew to park my Prius midway up the rough dirt road; then a 2 mile hike to Grays Peak trailhead. Ho, hum. Strike that – NOT ho hum. Had I been able to drive UP to the trailhead directly, would have missed out on some amazing colour. Less than a mile of this hike is at treeline, giving away to dense thicket, followed by tundra & rock. Still partial to New England fall colour – because there are so many colours – but admit our native Aspens are gorgeous against their evergreen backing.

Two months since our first attempt at Grays; today we barreled up the trail. Ro & I have since expanded our high altitude lungs and improved our climbing stamina. Started this hike challenge in January but not ‘til mid-June did my body catch up with my mental desire for more. Bring it on, I see snow on the horizon!

Half-mile to go and start passing other hikers…chatting it up with a few. Hikers are an easy-going, centered breed. We love being outside; we are amazed by the ease, the sheer beauty of nature’s wonders. Older folks, young guns, families, folks with/without dogs – doesn’t matter – same breed of people, same awe, same self-centeredness.

Snapped a few pics and settled behind a rock enclosure, ready for lunch. Several other hikers summit. We take turns shooting group pics for one another. Chris from Iowa/getting married in October, Boris/another guy/his son, 2 Texan college gals who summited their first (and maybe last) 14er (think the elevation got ’em), a super-fit Colorado mom and her 22-year old son…and my favs — a family with their 6 year-old son & 8 year-old daughter. How cool is that? PLUS the boy’s name was Keegan — kept thinking his mom was calling me. A family that hikes together…stays together. Super inspired! AMAZING folks!